Nigeria, July 22 -- Opportunity does not always arrive as a promotion. Sometimes it arrives disguised as extra responsibility.

When the Operations Manager of a fast-growing manufacturing company proceeded on his annual leave, the office suddenly became unusually busy. The manager's desk was filled with unfinished projects, pending approvals, customer complaints, supplier meetings and operational deadlines. Management considered recalling him from leave because there seemed to be no one ready to handle the workload.

During a management meeting, David, one of the middle-level supervisors, quietly spoke up. "If you permit me," he said, I'd like to help coordinate the department until he returns. David had never managed a department of that...